Darcy & Anne by Judith Brocklehurst

Title: Darcy & Anne
Author: Judith Brocklehurst
Category: Regency Fiction (Jane Austen inspired)

Jane Austen Reading Challenge 2010

Darcy & Anne is a "sequel" to Jane Austen's classic Pride & Prejudice, focusing on Darcy's cousin, Anne de Bourgh.

After Darcy's marriage to the lovely Elizabeth Bennet, Catherine de Bourgh is anxious to find her daughter, Anne, a suitable husband - "suitable" being a gentleman who would not only raise Anne's status in society, but also that of her elitist mother. When no suitors can be found in their locality, Catherine de Bourgh makes the decision to take Anne to Pemberley and have her nephew, Darcy, and his new wife find a husband for her daughter instead.

After a fortunate series of events, Anne ends up staying in Pemberley with her cousin and his wife much longer than anticipated, and grows more and more independant of her mother and others as each week passes, eventually working up the courage to follow her heart's desire, and not be a part of her mother's controlling schemes.

This was a good "sequel" to Austen's P&P. Brocklehurst has used a relatively minor character from Austen's novel, working a storyline that incorporates P&P's Darcy & Elizabeth without deviating from the original story. A clever interpretation that works well and is most enjoyable.

3 out of 5 stars.